Babies 'at risk' from low care standards
The health of some babies could be at risk, study claims
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Tuesday, 29, May 2007 02:37
The health of newborn babies and their mothers is being put at risk due to unqualified support staff performing the roles of midwives, a new study warns.
Maternity support workers (MSWs) are expected to play a key role in the future maternity workforce and their role is aimed at freeing up midwives' time by undertaking paperwork and other tasks.
Research from King's College London, conducted on behalf of the Department of Health (DoH), found that managers of a number of NHS trusts were enthusiastic about the contribution of MSWs to maternity services, reporting that they allowed midwives to spend more time with women and babies.
But the study also found that some MSWs are doing tasks that are deemed within the scope of midwifery practice and which require specialist midwifery knowledge and training.
This lack of consistency in MSWs roles could constitute a risk to patients' and babies' safety, the report claims.
Just last month the health secretary Patricia Hewitt dismissed reports of support workers standing in for midwives as "absolute nonsense".
Professor Jane Sandall, who led the research, said: "There is a danger that support workers could cease to become 'another pair of hands', freeing the midwife and other members of the maternity team from administrative and routine duties in order to look after women.
"Instead, they may be called upon to substitute care provided by midwives, without sufficient investment in their training or development. This is a less desirable situation which needs careful management at a local level to ensure public safety."
The report outlines a number of steps that should be taken to address the problem, including the setting up of a national framework for training and competencies of support workers.
It adds that there is an urgent need for the skills and tasks that can and cannot be delegated to a support worker to be identified.
In response to the findings a DoH spokesperson said the study shows "only a tiny proportion" of trusts had MSWs carrying out inappropriate care.
"Every baby must be delivered by a registered midwife or a doctor. This is a legal requirement not an option," they added.
"It is completely unacceptable if a hospital is using a maternity support worker as a substitute for a midwife and the CNO [chief nursing officer] has written out to all trusts to clarify this and asked that they review the working practices of all support workers, ensuring maternity services are provided safely."